Sibal’s son still defends Vodafone, says Aap
16 May 2013 7:14 AM IST
Decision of the newly-appointed Law Minister Kapil Sibal to overturn his predecessor Ashwani Kumar’s decision on Vodafone’s tax liability issue of Rs 11,217 crore has got flak from various quarters, including the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday, while addressing a press conference and distributing some documents in this regard with senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, questioned the haste of Sibal in taking up the matter on the very first day of assuming the additional charge of law ministry and change of opinion by Attorney General GE Vahanvati within hours of Sibal taking charge.
‘What was the haste in taking up the Vodafone issue on the very first day by Sibal. Why was he in such a hurry to clear this out of court settlement? Is it because his son (Amit Sibal) has represented Vodafone in courts as an advocate,’ asked Kejriwal.
‘Why did AG change his opinion within hours after the new minister took charge? Vodafone is expecting out-of-court settlement from Sibal and he started misusing his office on the very first day,’ said Kejriwal. He alleged that Rs 2,000 crore agreement was reached to get Vodafone tax issue-related cases dismissed or withdrawn from courts. ‘The question arises whether a portion of Rs 2,000 crore has gone to Sibal and others who are there,’ Kejriwal asked.
The BJP said that there should be an investigation on the allegations made by AAP. ‘There should be a proper inquiry into the matter and action should be taken against those who are found guilty in this murky episode of favouritsm,’ said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Amit Sibal, meanwhile, told this paper, ‘The allegations against me are completely false. Facts have been deliberately concealed. For the last four years I have stopped appearing for Vodafone. I took a conscious decision not to take any case for any telecom companies four years back. The last time I appeared for a telecom company was in April 2010, much before Kapil Sibal became the Telecom Minister.’
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday, while addressing a press conference and distributing some documents in this regard with senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, questioned the haste of Sibal in taking up the matter on the very first day of assuming the additional charge of law ministry and change of opinion by Attorney General GE Vahanvati within hours of Sibal taking charge.
‘What was the haste in taking up the Vodafone issue on the very first day by Sibal. Why was he in such a hurry to clear this out of court settlement? Is it because his son (Amit Sibal) has represented Vodafone in courts as an advocate,’ asked Kejriwal.
‘Why did AG change his opinion within hours after the new minister took charge? Vodafone is expecting out-of-court settlement from Sibal and he started misusing his office on the very first day,’ said Kejriwal. He alleged that Rs 2,000 crore agreement was reached to get Vodafone tax issue-related cases dismissed or withdrawn from courts. ‘The question arises whether a portion of Rs 2,000 crore has gone to Sibal and others who are there,’ Kejriwal asked.
The BJP said that there should be an investigation on the allegations made by AAP. ‘There should be a proper inquiry into the matter and action should be taken against those who are found guilty in this murky episode of favouritsm,’ said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Amit Sibal, meanwhile, told this paper, ‘The allegations against me are completely false. Facts have been deliberately concealed. For the last four years I have stopped appearing for Vodafone. I took a conscious decision not to take any case for any telecom companies four years back. The last time I appeared for a telecom company was in April 2010, much before Kapil Sibal became the Telecom Minister.’
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